Escaped prisoner shot and killed by police

THE hunt for two escaped prisoners took a new twist on Friday night when it was reported that one of the fugitives had been shot and killed by police while the second man was still being pursued.

US media said that police had said Richard Matt, one of two prisoners who escaped from a New York state prison three weeks ago, has been shot and seriously wounded. It was subsequently reported that he had died after being shot in the vicinity of Lake Titus, New York, near the Canadian border.

The Daily Beast said the hunt was still on for David Sweat, the second prisoner. Earlier police had said that more evidence linked to the men had been found in an area near the Canadian border where more than 1,100 law enforcement officers were focussing their search.